A Tale Of Two Gimps

Joe "Duff" McBride's new book, A Tale of Two Gimps: "Such Is Life," tells the eye-opening and, at times, sidesplitting story of his misadventures as a self-titled "gimp"--the result of a car accident as a teenage boy that left him physically disabled, but with his sense of humor fully intact. His witty perspective on life, especially the difficulties of his new situation, is shared and even amplified by his friendship with "Mouse," another teenage boy who finds himself in a similar predicament. When the two teens become acquainted at a rehabilitation hospital in Philadelphia, they are both also becoming acquainted with the tremendous challenges forced upon them by their spinal cord injuries. These problems are more than just the physical handicaps, but the emotional and psychological ones as well, as the two boys manage to keep the spirits of others high as well as their own, at the same time they struggle daily with the kinds of basic activities that most people take for granted. Even thought the book is intended to entertain the reader with unblinking honesty and biting humor, it also presents a remarkable account of two young men doing the best they can. A Tale of Two Gimps is a unique work, offering a glimpse into a world many can't imagine. It is sad, touching, hilarious, filled with hope, disgusting, shocking, crude and raw. Just like life. It shows how, for these two indomitable young men, 'it was the worst of circumstances, and it was the best of circumstances.'

GIMP is a free alternative to Adobe Photoshop with tons of professional-grade features. But with so many powerful tools and menu options, GIMP can be difficult to master. Whether you're struggling to get started or trying to master some of GIMP's more complex features, you'll find the answers you're looking for in The Book of GIMP. The tutorials in the first half of the book walk you through essential GIMP skills, like resizing and cropping images, touching up spots and scratches, and customizing your work area. Illustrated, step-by-step instructions show you how to: –Improve the lighting and composition of images –Remove distortions and noise to make old and damaged photos look like new –Create stunning panoramas and digital collages using a series of photos –Make, edit, and export custom textures, logos, and animated GIFs –Work with selections, channels, and masks to edit images like a pro –Create colorful digital art, layer by layer The book's second half offers a comprehensive reference to GIMP's many features, including color balancing, masks, filters, and plug-ins. You'll find tools described in unparalleled detail, with coverage of nearly every option and parameter. With illustrated tutorials and detailed references, The Book of GIMP is sure to become your one-stop guide to just about everything GIMP.

In 1972, gambling is on the horizon for Atlantic City. Joey "the Gimp" Giampietro, a fortyish Mafioso in the Vecchio Crime Family of Philadelphia, and Johnny "GaGa" Bellino from New York, have plans-big plans-to get themselves a piece of the action. Bellino's plan was simple. The Gimp made it complex. Amid the bustling streets of South Philadelphia the Gimp slips in and out of a revengeful psychotic funk. The abandonment by his mother at a young-age left the Gimp vulnerable to the abuse of his foster father-an original capo in the Vecchio Crime Family. In an attempt to settle old scores first, the Gimp never contemplates the rippling effect that his actions could have on his life. Finally, his double-dealing quest for satisfaction backfires into a fight for survival. As more and more people become entangled in the web of the criminal subculture perpetuated by the Gimp and his gang, many contemplate killing this fearsome rogue Mafioso. The most unlikely one will succeed. Inevitably everyone who falls prey to the Gimp's contrivances is forced to seek resolution in the labyrinth of his or her conflicted lives. Some find sorrow and pain. Others find hope and love. A few find tragic death. The lucky ones get another chance.

Park ranger Anna Pigeon is enjoying the open spaces of Colorado when she receives an urgent call. A young woman has been injured while exploring a cave in New Mexico?s Carlsbad Cavern Park. Before she can be pulled to safety, she sends for her friend Anna. Only one problem: a crushing fear of confined spaces has kept Anna out in the open her whole life.

The 525 notable works of 19th and 20th century American fiction in this reference book have many stage, movie, television, and video adaptations. Each literary work is described and then every adaptation is examined with a discussion of how accurate the version is and how well it succeeds in conveying the spirit of the original in a different medium. In addition to famous novels and short stories by authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Willa Cather, many bestsellers, mysteries, children’s books, young adult books, horror novels, science fiction, detective stories, and sensational potboilers from the past two centuries are examined.